I was the lucky recipient of a week of unpaid furlough so I decided to get out on the trail for a couple of days. It will be my first long hike of the year.

I'm heading out later this morning for a two-day 37 mile trip on the AT in Pennsylvania. I'm starting out north of Harrisburg at the base of Peters Mountain and heading north. Planning to hike 11 miles and stay at the Rausch Gap shelter. Tomorrow I'll hike a little over 26 miles to PA 183. I've only hiked small portions of this section so I am really looking forward to it. Wish me luck.

If anyone has read Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods" you might remember him saying a few not-so-nice things about the AT in PA. One was that he had never met a hiker that had anything good to say about the trail in Pennsylvania, and another was that it offers no memorable vistas.

I really enjoyed the book, but regarding the trail in PA, this guy is no expert. He hiked 13 of the 230 miles and makes comments like this? Yes, PA is rocky, rocky to the point of driving you crazy on a long hike, but I have a great time every time I get out on the trail. One of the lookouts on my hike tomorrow has an overlook of Central PA that extends for over 40 miles. It is breath taking.

I'm interested in what others think about it. Any comments on the AT in Pennsylvania or elsewhere?

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